Tulsi Gabbard Gutting Almost Half of Her Workforce in Massive New Cuts

(Photo by Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto via AP)

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Wednesday that she is almost half of her workforce in a revamp of the agency called “ODNI 2.0.”

Axios was first to report on Wednesday about Gabbard’s plans, with multiple reports confirming the major slashes, citing senior officials. The workforce for the agency is expected to be cut up to 40%, reducing from approximately 1,800 employees to 1,300. Offices deemed redundant will also be closed. Senior officials claim the effort is expected to save taxpayers $700 million annually.

Gabbard reportedly described the “ODNI 2.0” effort as “the start of a new era focused on serving our country, fulfilling our core national security mission with excellence, always grounded in the U.S. Constitution, and ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.”

Moving forward with the planned cuts follows Gabbard reportedly revoking dozens of security clearances of current and former officials over “politicization or weaponization of intelligence” to “advance personal or partisan goals.”

Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” she wrote on X. “Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”

The intelligence official has also repeatedly and controversially accused former President Barack Obama and others of “treason” over probes that found Russia made efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.